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Winter event gets prospects acclimated to park, city

Antonetti, Francona to address young players, who will also attend seminars

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By Jordan Bastian
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MLB.com |

CLEVELAND -- A group of the Indians' emerging prospects will be at Progressive Field this week, taking part in the organization's annual winter development program. It is a chance for the players to take a look around the ballpark and city they might someday call home.

It is also an opportunity for Cleveland to introduce aspects of the big leagues to a select cast of Minor Leagues who could be knocking on the Majors' door soon. This offseason's eight-day program features 14 of the Tribe's prospects, including No. 2 prospect Francisco Lindor, and will run through Jan. 14.

The purpose of the program -- headed this offseason by field coordinator Tom Wiedenbauer -- is to help acclimate the players to the stadium, the city and the club's training facilities. The event will include seminars and guest speakers, including Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer and ESPN reporter Buster Olney, among others.

Indians general manager Chris Antonetti and manager Terry Francona, along with other front-office and team staff, will also address the players. The program was originally created by team president Mark Shapiro and is in its 18th year.

Here is a glance at the players participating in the program this winter:

1B Jesus AguilarAcquired: Signed as non-drafted free agent in 2007On 40-man roster? NoBriefly: Aguilar hit .280 with 15 home runs, 31 doubles and 71 RBIs in 127 games between Class A (high) Carolina and Double-A Akron last season. He also earned a spot on the World Team roster in the All-Star Futures Game.

C/1B Yan GomesAcquired: Traded by Toronto with INF Mike Aviles for RHP Esmil Rogers on Nov. 3On 40-man roster? YesBriefly: Gomes hit .204 with four homers and 13 RBIs in 43 games with the Blue Jays last season after hitting .328 with 13 homers, 29 doubles and 59 RBIs in 79 games with Triple-A Las Vegas. Gomes will be in camp with the Indians this spring.

RHP Preston GuilmetAcquired: Ninth round (275th overall) in 2009 First-Year Player DraftOn 40-man roster? NoBriefly: Guilmet posted a 2.39 ERA with 24 saves in 50 games with Double-A Akron last year. Along the way, he recorded 51 strikeouts against 13 walks in 52 2/3 innings.

RHP Trey HaleyAcquired: Second round (76th overall) in 2008 First-Year Player DraftOn 40-man roster? YesBriefly: Haley appeared in 25 games between stints with the Rookie League Indians, Class A (high) Carolina and Double-A Akron in 2012. In 38 2/3 innings, the righty compiled 49 strikeouts and 19 walks.

LHP T.J. HouseAcquired: 16th round (501st overall) in 2008 First-Year Player DraftOn 40-man roster? YesBriefly: House logged 27 starts last season between stops with Class A (high) Carolina and Double-A Akron last season. The lefty went 10-5 with a 3.56 ERA and posted 116 strikeouts against 50 walks in 149 1/3 innings.

SS Francisco LindorAcquired: First round (8th overall) in 2011 First-Year Player DraftOn 40-man roster? NoBriefly: In his second professional season, Lindor hit .257 with six homers, 24 doubles, three triples and 42 RBIs in 122 games with Class A (low) Lake County. The shortstop added 27 stolen bases and 83 runs, and appeared in the All-Star Futures Game.

RHP Fabio MartinezAcquired: Claimed off waivers from the Angels on Aug. 6On 40-man roster? NoBriefly: Martinez appeared in 16 games (eight starts) between Class A (high) Inland Empire (Los Angeles) and Class A (high) Carolina (Cleveland) last season. He went a combined 0-7 with a 10.24 ERA, recording 30 strikeouts and 40 walks in 29 innings.

OF Carlos MoncriefAcquired: 14th round (441st overall) in 2008 First-Year Player DraftOn 40-man roster? NoBriefly: Moncrief hit .249 with 15 home runs, 23 doubles, four triples and 53 RBIs in 101 games with Class A (high) Carolina in 2012. He also stole 17 bases for the Mudcats.

INF Ronny RodriguezAcquired: Signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2010On 40-man roster? NoBriefly: Rodriguez bounced between second base and shortstop with Class A (high) Carolina last season, appearing in 126 games overall. He hit .264 with 19 home runs, 20 doubles, four triples, 66 RBIs and 67 runs scored.

RHP Danny SalazarAcquired: Signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2006On 40-man roster? YesBriefly: Salazar went 5-2 with a 2.36 ERA in 22 starts between Class A (high) Carolina and Double-A Akron during the 2012 campaign. The right-hander logged 87 2/3 innings, striking out 76 and walking 27 along the way.

LHP Giovanni SotoAcquired: Traded by Detroit for INF Jhonny Peralta on July 29, 2010On 40-man roster? NoBriefly: In 22 starts with Double-A Akron last season, Soto went 6-9 with a 3.93 ERA. The lefty worked 121 1/3 innings and compiled 100 strikeouts against 49 walks for the Aeros.

INF Tony WoltersAcquired: Third round (87th overall) in 2010 First-Year Player DraftOn 40-man roster? NoBriefly: Wolters spent the entire 2012 season with Class A (high) Carolina, splitting his time between second base and shortstop. Offensively, he hit .260 with eight home runs, 30 doubles, eight triples, 58 RBIs and 66 runs in 125 games.